X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism characterizations of Mn doped ZnO

Abstract

We report the near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments on well characterized Mn doped ZnO thin films that show ferromagnetism at room temperature. The NEXAFS measurements at O K edge clearly exhibit a preedge spectral feature which evolves with Mn doping, similar to one observed in hole-doped cuprates and manganites. The Mn L3,2 edge NEXAFS spectra exhibit divalent Mn apart from mixed valent Mn3+∕Mn4+ states. The spectral features of XMCD at Mn L3,2 edge demonstrate that ferromagnetism comes from Mn2+ ions and its dichroism shape is independent of Mn concentration.